Identity Transformation/Coming of Age

Sticky tries to define himself in the face of overwhelming odds. He is a throwaway white kid, victimized by personal trauma and bounced from one foster-care situation to another. His dreams of playing professional basketball and the love of his girlfriend Anh-thu give him the strength he needs to transcend his past and get in touch with his true feelings. During the novel, the imperfect by likeable Sticky moves from being an angry boy out of touch with his feelings to a young man with a promising future, even if still limited by circumstance.

OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).

OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Sticky suffers from a syndrome that forces him to repeat certain motor actions over and over again. The OCD kicks in when he is under stress, and is probably exacerbated by traumatic incidents he witnessed as a child. His OCD proves his undoing when...